NCT07349706 · RECRUITING
IMST for Dementia Risk Reduction
This trial tests whether a simple breathing-muscle workout, done at home for about 5 to 10 minutes a day over 8 weeks, can improve blood pressure, thinking, mood, and sleep in older adults. It compares a high-resistance device to a low-resistance one. It is an early feasibility study, not yet proven.
You may qualify if
- Ages 60-80
- Converted telephone MoCA total score≥18
- Presence of at least one dementia risk factor (e.g., MCI or subjective cognitive decline, hypertension [SBP >130 mmHg or on medication], sedentary lifestyle [\<150 min/week], family history of dementia or self-reported APOE ε4 carrier, or mild sleep-disordered breathing; CAIDE total score [>5]
- Capable of independently completing or requiring minimal assistance with inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST)
- Willing to adhere to the IMST protocol (approximately 5-10 minutes per day for 8 weeks)
- Optional inclusion of inspiratory muscle weakness (MIP \<80 cmH₂O for men, \<70 cmH₂O for women) will also be assessed.
You're excluded if
- tMoCA \<18, or diagnosis of neurodegenerative illness at the discretion of principal investigator (except MCI)
- Current evidence of any major psychiatric disorder including psychosis (at the discretion of principal investigator), bipolar disorder, severe major depression (PHQ-9 > 20)
- Unstable cardiovascular or pulmonary disease
- Recent respiratory therapy or major medication changes
- Self-reported severe untreated or unstable obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- Recent start (within the past month) of CPAP or BiPAP, or recent use of inspiratory muscle training
- Lung and eardrum injuries
- Non-English speaking
- Participants with a pacemaker or other medical implants containing magnets or electronics will be noted and excluded from body composition analyses.
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-10-05